Welcome to SAVOUR 2013!

Hi Huneybees,

Remember my post on the media preview of SAVOUR 2013? It's finally happening and it was a pleasure to be invited by the presenting partner - NESPRESSO to tour SAVOUR 2013 as well as to witness the launch of their latest limited edition coffee.

Let me bring you over to the NESPRESSO booth for the launch of the coffees first...

Arriving at the booth, I was already captivated by the 2 Vespas parked right outside. It already gives you an idea of what gave the inspiration to the making of the 2 limited editions. 

With bloggers, Malcolm, Elrica and her hubby,

Jack and Rai and Jack's wife.

When I entered the booth, I met alot of friends there and we had a hell of time photo taking and it was great to share stories whilst sipping aromatic NESPRESSO coffees.

Henry Golding was the host for the night and after a brief introduction by Irene Latoa (Country Manager of Nespresso Singapore), we were surprised by 2 of the Vespas, ridden down the red carpet and there was our stars for the night in the hands of the models!

Introducing the NESPRESSO Spring Limited Edition Grand Cru duo - Trieste and Napoli.

Paying homage to the strong coffee heritage of Italy Trieste and Napoli celebrates the two Italian cities that are delightfully distinct in character yet equal in their passion for coffee.

Trieste

The Trieste Limited Edition reflects the rich and varied cultural experience to be found in Trieste. The multifaceted northeastern Italian port city reflects a mix of German, Italian and Slavic cultures. All green coffee bound for the coffee houses of Vienna came through Trieste, as the gateway to the Austro-Hungarian empire.

The coffee is delightful both with and without milk. With an intensity level of 9, Trieste is a subtle blend of 100% Arabica beans from Brazil and eastern Africa offering notes of chocolate and fresh hazelnuts, a round texture and a fruity touch. While it is best enjoyed as a ristretto (25 ml), Limited Edition Trieste reveals intense, roasted coffee notes with a hint of brown caramel and nuts when served as a cappuccino.

Napoli

Coffee also holds a special place in vibrant Naples, located in the south of Italy. Here, the first domestic appliance to prepare coffee was invented: the “caffettiera napoletana”. This brought coffee consumption into the home, transforming it from an aristocratic drink enjoyed in cafés to a domestic pleasure.

The Nespresso interpretation of the concentrated “black gold” of Naples is Napoli: a blend of Arabica beans from South America, Africa and Asia, with a hint of Robusta. Bold and assertive with a syrupy body, it has refined, smoky notes reminiscent of dried black tea leaves. With an intensity level of 11, the Napoli Limited Edition is best enjoyed as a ristretto (25 ml). For an even more authentic tasting experience, it can be served as an even shorter cup (15-20 ml) and sweetened with sugar.

The coffees are available for sale at Savour 2013 and it was a pleasure to have Mark making us the coffee that night. Do drop by the Nespresso booth to experience the aromatic coffees. I bet you would not leave without buying some.

I even got to take a picture with the Michelin Star Chef - Mauro Colagreco from MIRAZUR. He was the one behind NESPRESSO Crealto Grand Cru.

Now, onto the "restaurants". There's so many choices to choose from and all I can say is prepare your Savour Dollars as you will be eating non-stop! And a note for you: Do be early and be patient as there might be long queues.

Top notch restaurant dishes at only a fraction of the price for you to try!

Other than good food and drinks, there's also opportunity for you to meet the chefs for some photos or probably they might share their little cooking tips with you?

We met Chef Moon again and seriously, his Truffle Kampachi is something you wana eat and eat again. I had it at the media preview and I can't forget it since then.

Margot Janse is the ONLY female chef at Savour 2013 and you can find her dishes at THE TASTING ROOM AT LE QUARTER FRANCAIS. Malcolm and I loved her Seared Scallop (Aerated Scallop and Dill Vichysoisse, Barley and Squid Ink Crumble) that we had to have one each.

The other dish that we loved was also the Stellar Grill (Beef). It's so tender, it melts in your mouth and bursting with juice! Eat it with sips of Moscato and that's what I call heaven!

Do visit the Gourmet Market too! You can shop for top quality ingredients and produce sourced from around the world. Connect with an entire ecosystem of quality brands, food and wine producers and FREE sampling sessions. There’s over 300 different activities that are available for you to attend for that complete sensory experience.

The SAVOUR Premier Pass is priced at $55 (Lunch Session) and $65 (Dinner Session), inclusive of SAVOUR Dollars to buy food and drinks at the Gourmet Village, and produce at the Gourmet Market. Extended opening hours at the Gourmet Village and Gourmet Market means a combined total of 7 more fun-filled hours to spend at SAVOUR 2013. It’s definitely fulfilling!

To purchase tickets to SAVOUR 2013, you can click here.

Tomorrow is the last day, so be sure to be there for the tasty 5 five star dishes!

More photos can be viewed in my album here.

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Crealto - Limited Edition Grand Cru by Nespresso

Hi Huneybees,

Nespresso once more demonstrates its never-­ending quest to surprise and delight consumers with new coffee experiences as it reveals its latest Limited Edition for Autumn 2012, Crealto.

Nespresso Green Coffee Specialist Alexis Rodriquez was inspired by Michelin-­starred chef Mauro Colagreco’s application of long-­roasting techniques at low temperatures. Uniting the creative strengths of both areas of expertise, Crealto reveals roasted notes that are surprisingly round and a lingering finish, achieved by a long roasting method by Nespresso.

Sealed in a white capsule marbled with brown streaks –
reminiscent of the way chefs decorate their creations. The packaging reflects its refined character.

The name Crealto stems from the combination of “Createur” and “Alto”, referencing the alta cucina (high gastronomy). Crealto is the latest Limited Edition coffee from Nespresso - a one‐off unique blend outside the brand’s collection of 16 permanent Grands Crus.

With an intensity of 8 -­ on a scale of 1-10 -­ and blended entirely from washed Arabicas, the unique character of Crealto allows its rich aroma to be fully appreciated. Whether savoured alone or within a milk recipe its long roasting time cooks all the notes harmoniously, allowing it to develop round-roasted notes that are long lasting.

Crealto is best served as an espresso (40 ml) but can also be enjoyed as a milk recipe. Add a drop of milk to Crealto and it will release subtle nutty aromas – while for those who prefer a cappuccino, notes of wild nuts are revealed.

Nespresso typically introduces innovative and unique Limited Edition coffees a few times a year for a short period of time, offering Club Members an exciting new taste experience and underlining the company’s expertise within the industry.

MAURO COLAGRECO - Michelin‐starred Chef
“My encounter with Nespresso allowed me to experience the various parallels between the world of gastronomy and coffee, such as the importance of the quality of ingredients, the techniques, the passion and precision you apply and the creative routes you explore in the search of new tasting experiences. It was fascinating to  discover how the long and slow roasting technique that I use in my cooking could be applied to the creation  of Crealto”.

A rising star of fine cuisine, Italian-­‐Argentinean Mauro Colagreco displays astonishing creativity in his cooking through his exquisite use of ingredients. In 2012, he was awarded a second Michelin star for his modern and inventive cooking at his restaurant Le Mirazur in Menton, on the Côte d’Azur.

The French Ministry of Culture awarded him the prestigious “Chevalier des arts et des lettres” for his contribution to French gastronomy. Mauro chose cooking as a means of expression in Argentina, his homeland, where he grew up in a family that has always cultivated an atmosphere of good food.

Passionate about traveling, he backpacked through his country, in Latin America and the Caribbean where he discovered different flavors and culinary traditions. In 2006, Mauro took over Le Mirazur Restaurant where after six months, he achieved recognition of Gault Millau with the prize of Revelation of the Year, which was followed by his first star in the Guide Michelin after just ten months.

In 2008-­‐2009 he was recognised once again by Gault Millau when he was awarded the prize of “Chef of the Year.” In 2012, the Mirazur was chosen as the 24th best restaurant in the world according to the San Pellegrino classification. Driven as he is to keep on learning and discovering, Mauro has developed a creative style of gastronomic cuisine, blending with the best of Mediterranean cooking. Mauro has been able to express himself fully within the magnificent setting of Le Mirazur.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ - Green Coffee Specialist, Nestlé Nespresso SA
“At Nespresso we are always looking for innovative ways to surprise our Club Members with unique coffee discoveries that unveil new sensorial experiences. We have worked with world class chefs for a long time, as there are many synergies between Nespresso and the world of high gastronomy, but had yet to collaborate on the development of a Limited Edition coffee. We were inspired by Mauro’s creative spirit and inventive gastronomic techniques, resulting in the unique taste profile of Crealto.”

Alexis Rodriguez, a Colombian native, is the Green Coffee Specialist at Nestlé Nespresso S.A. In his role, he is responsible for Nespresso Product Development and Quality Control. His main role is to create new Nespresso Grands Crus, Limited Editions and single origins. In addition, Alexis is also responsible for defining and maintaining the quality criteria for the green coffee that Nespresso uses in its AAA Sustainable Quality Program™.

Alexis divides his time between tasting the green coffee in the Nespresso Production Centres in Switzerland, and coffee producing countries working on new developments and exploring new varieties. He has spent 20 years, his entire career, solely and fully dedicated to coffee - from the plant to the beverage.

Before joining Nestlé Nespresso SA in 1999, Alexis spent seven years as the head of Quality Control for the Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, where he set up a reference laboratory for the organization in Belgium.

Crealto will be available for purchase from September 2012 at all Nespresso Boutiques, via toll free hotline 800-­852-­3525, Nespresso website (http://www.nespresso.com/) and Nespresso app at $11.50 per sleeve.

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